‘Anguish of hunger is not an issue of politics’

Describing the statement as ‘callous’, Yechury, whose party supports the UPA government from outside, said the Government ought to have been in the lead in alleviating the sufferings of the people.

After meeting Left leaders on the price rise issue on Friday, the Prime Minister had urged all political parties to eschew the temptation of politicising the misery of the people and warned against creating an environment of scarcity which would encourage speculators and hoarders.

Supporting him, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said every political party had a right to voice their concern over spiralling prices.

Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh said price rise was a matter of concern for everyone and did not pertain to any particular party. He said it was wrong on the part of Prime Minister to say that the opposition was doing politics over the issue.

“Anguish of hunger is not an issue of politics,” he said. When Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan asked Jaswant Singh only to associate, the Leader of the Opposition got infuriated and said, “You cannot interrupt me. You cannot point a finger at me.”